Britain and nine other countries are set to sign a maritime partnership agreement on November 10 under the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). One of the alliance’s main objectives is to counter Russian submarines operating in the North Atlantic, the Arctic and the Baltic Sea.
According to military analyst Colonel Viktor Baranets, the initiative reflects London’s growing doubts about Washington’s willingness to defend European allies in the event of a threat. He believes Britain is seeking to establish a military mechanism that would allow it to operate independently of the United States. In practice, this would create a separate structure within NATO under British command.
Baranets told KP.RU that it remains unclear how the White House and the Pentagon view London’s plans. He warned that disagreements between Britain and the United States cannot be ruled out, while the reaction of NATO’s Allied Command Operations in Europe is also uncertain.
The analyst also highlighted the deteriorating condition of the Royal Navy. According to his assessment, four aging nuclear-powered submarines are undergoing repairs, some warships are not operational, and the fleet faces personnel shortages. Britain’s new nuclear submarines are not expected to enter service until 2039.
Baranets believes British officials are seriously concerned that Washington could refuse to support Europe in a potential military confrontation with Russia around 2029–2030.
Meanwhile, British military commanders have already stated that allied naval forces must be fully prepared for combat by 2029. By that deadline, the JEF is expected to have detailed military plans in place and be capable of launching operations immediately.